dear life from noelle

KC

2012-01-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

she's not going to be thrilled about this, but i just couldn't resist.
when i started work at o.c. tanner and didn't know where to find a pen, buy my lunch or whom to speak with in the manufacturing department KC came to my rescue. a good deal of my time in salt lake was spent with her - well spent, i might add - lunches, walks, post-work work-outs, sushi dinners etc.

she's wonderful.
she's also a DEAD RINGER for michelle dockery - the star of downton abbey.
(and if you haven't been hooked yet, you'd better.)

here's michelle.

and her american twin.

right?!?!?!

the worst part of my work day...

2012-01-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

the worst part of my work day is walking from the car park through the windy corridor or cold into the building. we're right on the water - and even though the views are stunning - the wind chill factor takes my breath away. [which of course necessitates a hot chocolate in the a.m.]

other than that, i'm loving it.

really. really. really. loving it.

Copy Cat

2012-01-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

There's room in my heart for two favorite colors.

When I saw Courtney (of Bravo's"Most Elligible Dallas") rock these hot pink jeans on her fashion blog, I added a pair of to my wish list. (And then made all my dreams come true when ideeli.com had a pair for $24.99) Naturally, to continue in copying Courtney, I rocked mine in Texas this weekend. Pink is the new red.

insta-jan

2012-01-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

don't know if you've joined the instagram craze just yet, but you don't want to miss out on jan_an.
her outfit ensembles are KILLING me. seriously, find her. follow her.

if only i could buy them...
or have gorgeous long blond hair.

if people were more like me...

2012-01-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

there would be more car accidents. (my driving skills have been on a steady decline)
we'd make more trees into tissues. my eyes leak a lot.
we'd look like skittles. i'm really into bright colors lately.
no one would ever be wrong. (this is actually a very bad habit)
we would always have the best of intentions. (execution is a different story.)
no one would ever pay full price. it's a mantra i stick to.
there would be no need for hangers. clothing in large piles will do.
parents' homes would be OVERFLOWING with their children, and their children's husband, and their children's children...
wasabi wouldn't need to exist. seriously, why?
emotion would always win out over logic.
baby blankets would actually be called lifetime blankets.

new years: resolutions

2012-01-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

have you heard people say that whatever you're doing at midnight on new year's is indicative of the year you'll have? after 10 hours of traveling x-country, we unpacked our suitcases, organized our closets, and cuddled up at midnight to talk about the wonderful week we had in washington. after a year in london and our recent escapades, i see a lot of quiet nights at home in our future. (hopefully with organized closets - which segues quite nicely into my resolutions..)

1. hang up my clothes
i've struggled with this one since 1997, but 2012 is my year.

2. NO MORE diet coke.
except on seldom occassions when a cheeseburger requires it. i hear the carbonation is terrible for your skin, and at 28, i'll do anything to rid myself of adult acne.

3. be really good at my job.
i start on tuesday - it's an amazing role with starwood hotels, and i'm 110% committed to being awesome at it. (which includes getting over my hatred for airplanes, since i just found out we'll be three weeks shooting in australia)

4. write more letters.
so send me your address.

5. be a better friend.
(which includes wife, daughter, sister etc)

6. finish my DIY projects
like the henredon dresser in my basement. which reminds me of the jewelry stand above. i've been searching for something functional to hold my jewelry that looks more like a decor element in our room. was thrilled when i came across this coral idea on pinterest, but needed something bigger. thanks to amazon.com i have a 20'' piece of staghorn coral to display my jewels.

and a host of other personal goals. (like win wills back from kate...)

what are you resolved to accomplish this year?

twenty eight

2012-01-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

this handsome fellow turned 28 over the holiday.

to celebrate him just a little more, here are 28 things you may not know about matt.

he's NOT a morning person.
he loves junk - hot tamales, sweet tarts, frosting, gushers ...
his default speed is sprint.
he randomly breaks into song, frequently!
he's a real good sport.
he's become quite the DIYer.
he likes gossip girl (but also cross fit).
he's a master of accents.
he's a really good driver. like really really good.
he isn't the most patient.
do not call him baby cakes.
he calls it like he sees it. not a lot of lip service here.
and gives VERY sincere compliments.
he tumbles.
he's world's greatest internet searcher.
he LOVES christmas.
he could be sponsored he skis so well.
he falas portuguese and hablas espanol.
he can jump flat footed from the floor to the counter top.
he is ten days younger than i am.
he thought paul simon was one of the beatles (he likes both bands).
even though he's handsome, smart and has a great job he has NO EGO.
he once got lost hiking in the mountains with friends.
he's a regular domestic goddess - does laundry, scrubs bathrooms and babysits.
he loves plaid shirts and currently owns 12+
he'll love anything you cook for him.
he used to hate dogs and now he kind of likes them - and LOVES luci cat.
he keeps secrets.
his middle name is T (just the initial!)
he has to sleep with a body pillow, ear plugs and contour neck pillow.
he's the best friend i've ever had.

mark your calendars for 2013. we're throwing a dual 30th.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2011-12-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Everytime "The Little Drummer Boy" comes on the radio I roll my eyes with such vigor I'm sure it's audible..

Guys, I hate to be the Santa-killer here...
but there WAS NOT a drummer boy at the manger.
Lies. All Lies.

NO pa rum pum pum pums.
NO talking lamb.

And while I'm bah-humbugging, I highly doubt the veracity of "Christmas Shoes."

guess who's back

2011-12-14T19:41:00.000-08:00

back in the professional world.

and loving it.

missoni for target

2011-12-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

when i found these beauties on clearance in LA i had to get them. (MforT was all the rage, right?) but when i got home and tried them on, i realized i'd never wear them.

if you or someone you know is looking for a Missoni by Target sweater in a size M, i'm selling both of mine. $20 each + shipping

lately

2011-12-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

channeled my innter 16-year-old and went with kelsey to sing along to taylor swift at MSG. highlight of the evening - james taylor joining her on stage (which made me feel not so 16 anymore.)

erica threw a birthday breakfast - spoiled us with bagels, bacon and birthday presents. i came away feeling like 28 is going to be a VERY good year with these little lovelies on my feet, something shiny on my wrist and a little something to drive to work in.

we've been sleeping. a lot. like 8-12 hours a night. that all changes january 3 when we start our new jobs. (ooooooh right..... forgot to mention...... that job i got months ago? i decided to look for something less secretary, more strategic. and i found it. i'm a marketing and communications manager for a large hotel company. and could not be happier about it.)

jake and aubry got married. we're thrilled about the union, but sad the wedding is over. round 2 at their reception in washington later this month.

this christmas...

2011-12-06T22:04:00.000-08:00

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."

Howard W. Hunter, "The Gifts of Christmas," Ensign, Dec 2002, 16

i'll be checking these off my to do list this holiday season. please let me know if you're upset with me (mend a quarrel). or leave an address if you'd like a letter.

they did it.

2011-12-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

dear californians,

i guess you're not entirely wrong. california is kind of a great place. i love IN N OUT. i love sunshine. i love the beach. and the relaxed attitudes. i love good food. specially mexican. i love charming tree-lined streets. and fresh produce.

i don't love volcom. or traffic. i could live without the sweet bro culture. and botox.

but on the whole, we had a FABULOUS weekend.
and these 2 made it official.

and i found an outfit i didn't hate*.
and this guy gave an amazing best man's toast.

matt's extended family came out in force - as always - to support the newly weds.
and we all had a wonderful time.

so californians, i'll be back.

xoxo

* if you're on the market for a modest dress, this was a great option from dessy. i had to have some alterations to make it work. think it might work best for the one-size-all-over-slightly-more-busty types - wasn't quite right off the rack for a flat pear shape!

red pants.

2011-11-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

i'm in a fashion rut lately.

if you could only see me now, in this very moment.
i went to bed with my hair wet. (think finger in a socket).
i'm wearing matt's sweatpants. (think baggy and ill fitting, but oh so comfy)
i'm allowing my skin to breath. (read - not a DROP of makeup for days)

if i ever emerge from it, i'd like to look like this:

because she is beautiful.
and has on red pants.

in an attempt to pull myself out of it, i've purchased leather leggings and was gifted a KILLER fur vest. or maybe that was an attempt to look like a jersey house wife ...

i (chart) you

2011-11-20T18:49:00.000-08:00

i chart you is ON SALE.

65% of your purchase.

that's practically free!

is this not the raddest family tree you've ever seen?

available on etsy.

would be ADORABLE in a baby room.

good reading material on a bathroom wall??!?!

or framed in an entry way.

and i think colors can be customized.

amazeballs.

(oh and maybe BFF and her uber talented hubby did it.)

haircut stare down

2011-11-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

hands down. she wins.

it didn't stop be from chopping it shorter to [try to] look like her.

hermione granger is STUNNING.

the places we'll go (if i had it my way)

2011-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

upcoming itinerary:
LA - Jake's wedding.
Kennewick - Christmas.
Houston - Tim's marathon.
Denver - Afton Swapp.

wanting to add to the list:
Hawaii - Noelle's tan.
Greece - Historical lesson.
Italy - Linguistics practice. (this will ALWAYS be on this list)
Kenya - Planet Earth in real life.
Israel - Religious growth.
Alaska - Environmental awareness.
Brazil - It's just supposed to be awesome.
French countryside - Time to recover from all this traveling.

if i had...

2011-11-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

dear shabby apple,

if you can hear me, and are in the business of making dreams come true, please make this dress with an extra 3 inches.

it's all i want for christmas!

xoxo
noelle

Thank You Pinterest

2011-11-15T19:37:00.000-08:00

Pinterest, thank you for:

organizing my wish list.
putting all things decor at my fingertips.
for making me laugh.
providing amazing dinner recipes.
and even better dessert ones.
for making dinner parties so easy to plan.
and giving me the confidence to buy leather pants.

you're pinteresting and simply pinspirational.

[are you on pinterest? let me know so i can follow you! what have you found?]

[a list] bad habits

2011-11-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

i have a real hard time hanging up my clothes.
and sometimes it is WAY too easy for me to fall asleep.
i like to eat EVERY. LAST. MORSEL on my plate.
i exaggerate (only a teensy weensy bit).
i'm the daughter of a sailor - and sometimes have the mouth to prove it.
i don't really understand "no."
because of the movie IT, i'm scared to flush the toilet at night.
i get excited and i interrupt.
i only put things back in their place about 50% of the time.
i talk too much about calories. and eat too many of them. it's a real bad cycle.
i don't really like to be alone. ever.
diet coke. (but never for breakfast).
i randomly break into song without realizing it. frequently.
i'm sarcastic. (which is always light hearted but not always well received)
i collect face washes. hoping one of them will be the magic cure.
i rarely have my cell phone on, charged, or with me.
i can't just let someone be mad.
i think i'm right 99% of the time. and i'm not.
i tend to err on the bossy side.
i have expectations that i don't even know i have, until they are not met.
i like online shopping WAY too much.
my creative vision exceeds my actual skill set. (i.e. toga disaster, mcguire chair disaster, etc etc etc)

help?

2011-11-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

dear senses of style:

help?

i think i mentioned jake (matt's brother) is marrying mississippi's sweetest girl (aubry) in a few weeks. they're beautiful. and we are thrilled.

[kylie nixon took these gorgeous photos.

if your'e in utah, you should have her take yours!]

the littlest lybbert also happens to be a knock out, and my MIL could pass as kelly rippa. this grouping of gorgeous has me sweating the family wedding photos. i just need to blend in, but that's a high bar. so, i need your help.

here's what i've got so far - a great charcoal dress and a statement necklace. but it might be cold. and i might need earrings. and i have no idea what to do for shoes (can i get away with flats, i really don't want to be six foot). i need somewhere to stick a lip gloss.

i have NO IDEA what makeup to wear. and i'm confident i won't know how to put on whatever you suggest. but i'd appreciate it anyway: pink lips? smokey eyes? bronzes?

and yes, i realize these are superficial first-world problems. but it's a superficial first-world problem that will be hanging on the wall for a long time...

OMD

2011-11-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

Oh My Dallas!

Please, tell me that you're addicted to BRAVO! television trash - and that even though the commercials looked terrible, you found yourself sucked into a Most Eligible: Dallas marathon.
Tell me you're as in love with Courtney Kerr as I am. (We're best friends, she just doesn't know it yet.)

Watch this and you'll love CK too.
And if you want to see what she's wearing / buying go here.
Texas forever.

one year ago...

2011-11-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

[12 months ago in florence]

it amazes me how much changes in a year. and how far my "plans" veered from their charted path. (insert Heavenly Father's laughing here.)

remember when we planned to live in london for 3-5 years? (ha ha)
remember when we were going to be mutually employed and living on the UWS by november? (ha ha)
any ideas for getting a handle on what the next 12 months WILL include?

when i think about where i was a year ago, it seems a thousand miles and a decade away from where i am today...

THEN we were in florence with the boys.

NOW matt lives in a house full of girls.

THEN i had an apartment in notting hill.

NOW i have a bedroom in my parents house.

THEN i was in the second year of the greatest job i'd ever had.

NOW i don't even want to discuss where i'm at with employment

THEN matt was a student.

NOW he's an accomplished LSE graduate with a career! (which is better than just a job)

THEN jake was considering a transatlantic move.

NOW he's weeks away from marrying the sweetest girl on the face of the earth.

THEN i weighed 7.6 pounds more than i did this morning.
NOW, i'm more careful about carbs.

THEN i was planning a trip to paris.

NOW i'm wondering when i'll make it back to costco for a crate of pomegranates.

THEN i missed stella.

NOW we cuddled in my bed, danced in the kitchen and chased "kiki" (luci cat) just today.

THEN we were just getting to know kate and tim.

NOW they're practically family. (not to mention barely knowing karen, sue, julie, lorianne, laurel, lindsey, jen and all the other lovely london ladies.)

THEN we had a pretty nice nest egg.

NOW those eggs hatched and flew the coup ..

THEN i was missing america, and planning a surprise thanksgiving trip to new york.

NOW i'm missing london and trying to find a way back for a week!

THEN i wore my green utility jacket EVERY. DAY. POSSIBLE.
NOW. well, at least i'm consistent. this may never change.

i tube. do you?

2011-11-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

laughing.

1. i hope my kids are this rational

2. it's worth watching the whole 7 minutes

3. this might make me want boys a LITTLE bit more

loving.

1. there is something so beautiful about this song. the piano? the honesty?

2. can you relate?

what have you tubed lately?

halloween

2011-10-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

[on the street where i live]

a nor'easter blew threw this weekend.

leaving 10+ inches of snow in the bestchester.

100s of down trees.

and ZERO internet / cable / phone at hotel nicolai.

i'll be back whenever optimum online is.

happy halloween.

abstain

2011-10-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

I usually abstain from all things political, but in light of recent news, I'd like to nominate John "Papa John" Schnatter as another GOP presidential candidate.

He's just qualified as Herman Cain. And Papa John's is better than Godfather's pizza. (and as an italian-american, i'm offended by the idea that pizza eating paesanos are mafioso.)

And if all it takes to become president is owning a small pizza chain, I'd like to get in on the action. I started this blog and would like to be the next President & CEO of Kate Spade. I'll give away a free Papa John's pizza with every purchase.

God Bless America. Pizza. and Kate Spade.
but Hermain Cain? really?

how to have the best time ever for almost nothing...

2011-10-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

1. sign up to get free tickets for you and all your friends to the nate berkus show.

2. get all dolled up. they ask you to and they mean it. a little extra effort could pay off...

3. get upgraded to the VIP section. because matt is so handsome, they scribbled 3 little letters on our tickets that meant WAY BETTER SEATS.

4. sit inches away from handsome nate.

5. win free things. like cookbooks and gift cards.

6. laugh endlessly at dena the comedian / audience coordinator. no really, she is hysterical.

7. have lunch at cafeteria. it's ALL delicious.

(8. and maybe stop by anthropologie after. it's just around the corner.)

we had such a great time ... i might sign up to see nate every day.

total cost: NOTHING.

2 hours of waiting (cancelled out by the 2 hours of laughing)

train fare (more than doubled our earnings with two $50 gift cards, THANKS NATE)

lunch money (calling this one even for all the great lunches i'll make with the cookbook we were gifted)

they say we'll be on in 2 weeks. i already set the DVR.

(the fame's already gone to my head, just call me noelle the narcissist.)

proudly introducing...

2011-10-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

though my dreams of staring in a reality television show, or losing 15 pounds on survivor may NEVER come true, tomorrow we lybberts (and a gardner) are making our television debut. (as audience members)

just can't wait.

the kind of friend i want to be...

2011-10-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

sometimes i miss having a houseful of best friends to share clothes, watch reality television, grab dinner or hit the gym with. matt does more girlfriend duties than are required (he really is TOO good) but husbands can't entirely replace the gaggle of girlfriends we had in college.

so tonight, jana and i waxed philosophical about friendship. some expectations and some disappointments. why some friends are great. why we need friends. and i started thinking about the kind of friend that i want to be.

i want to remember important dates.
and be thoughtful for no reason.

i want my friends to call me when they're happy because they know i'll be their no. 1 cheerleader. or when they're sad, because they know it's okay to cry. and i'll take their side. unless their wrong. and then i'll let them cry and try to help them see the other person's perspective.

my friend and me, we can be snarky together. but also, we can tell each other "hey, be nice." and we can go to dinner and talk all night. or we can just sit and say nothing in sweat pants.

i want to be the kind of friend you could talk to every day. or not talk to for a long time. and it would still be the same whenever we talked next.

i'll be the kind of friend that tells you if your butt looks big. but that also helps you pick out something that makes your butt look skinny.

and help you with all sorts of things. whenever you ask. and whenever you don't.
and if i hurt your feelings, you can say "hey, when you did that thing, it hurt my feelings." and i will say "i didn't mean to, i am so sorry." and you would know i meant it.

so basically, i want to my friendships to be like my sisters.

neiman marcus last call

2011-10-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

neiman marcus last call has a website. (who knew?)
and today, one item of your choosing is 40% off (while all other items are an additional 30% off)
and if you spend $50 or more, use the code LCCDAY50 for free shipping.

there's lots of amazing things to buy. shoes. bags. clothes. and earrings....

like
gorgeous green studs
or these hammered gold chunk earrings.

happy shopping

replaced

2011-10-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

i have a new favorite fashion blogger.

maybe it has to do with the fact that i wished i looked like her.
behold, lindsey.

foreshadowing

2011-10-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

having a niece and nephew around (aka - as roommates) gives some good insight into the type of parents matt and i will be.

i'll be one of those moms who is always in her gym clothes but never works out. who doesn't put on makeup. ever. or style her hair.

there's proof...

oh well.

surprise

2011-10-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

we're back from a surprise trip to utah.
hence the radio silence - it was a surprise and needed to stay that way. amidst ambushing his brother and sister and catching our fill of cougar football, wilk chocolate milk and cafe rio, we spent some time on campus.

the five years (yes FIVE) i spent in college were the most fun i've ever had, with the best friends i've ever had. but going back was strange... STRANGE. i imagine the feeling to be something like showing up at your childhood home for nostalgia's sake, only to find the house isn't there and no one there ever knew it existed. (you follow?)

and i thought the cheerleaders were in high school.
no really.

highlights:
- all of the surprises. showing up on doors. popping up on campus. hopping out of closets.
- chocolate milk and cafe rio
- group work out - the calories burned laughing are about equal with the calories burned lifting
- big hugs from old friends at o.c. tanner
- colorful mountains
- finally coming to terms with utah not being our home anymore (i did live there for 7 years...)

camouflaged kitty

2011-10-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

it's been chilly in new york.

i spy with my little eye a toasty roasty luci cat.

reality.

2011-10-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

a year ago i noticed a few gray hairs.
a month ago my vision seemed to be dimming.

and after a quick trip to costco, it's official - at 18 my right eye was 20/15, at 28 it's 20/40. so now i'm ordering my warby parker's ($95 frames - you just can't beat it).

i've gotten mixed feebback on the options. regardless of what looks best on me, their virtual tryer-oner is AMAZING. what do you think? i'm leaning towards 1 and 3 (unless you tell me 3 is awful, and then i'll change to 4. see how flexible i am?)

i'm doing my best not to say that thing that matt hates when i say. (i'm getting so old)

a question for the experts

2011-10-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

dear jenny komenda, caitlin wilson, caitlin creer, & shea miller:

is pattern on matching pattern a no-no?
i kind of love it.
(but i've only every seen it done by the companies trying to sell their matching patterns ... and i would never buy a head-to-toe outfit from the same store...)

happy list

2011-10-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

i've been keeping a happy list for years - jotting down the little things that make me smile. here's what's filling my happy tank lately:

[the shops in notting hill & luci cat.]

putting stella to sleep. she's a little ball of energy 99% of the day, but when it's time for bed she wraps herself around you, burrows into your shoulder and will cuddle as long as you're willing to rock her.

bambi. not the movie, just my suburban life. whether i'm en route to the mailbox, or out for a jog it is nearly guaranteed that bright red cardinals, sharp blue jays, busy squirrels, scampering chipmunks, or a prudent bunny will cross my path. it's impossible not to love it.

luci cat. he sneaks his way into our bedroom each night, finds a soft spot on the duvet and cuddles up with me and matt.

lavender candles. in one of the charming shops, on one of the charming streets in notting hill i purchased the most magical candle. dayelsford's lavender candle fills the room and melts away stress. i used to let it burn for hours on end, because a replacement was yards away. these days i'm rationing it out.

REAL emails. how many emails in your inbox this morning were real ones? nothing better than an electronic letter.

the success of my friends. kelsey's cooking show is on fire. shea is becoming an interior designer. kate manages Clark's global brand. caitlin designed her own fabric line. ashley is going to be colorado's greatest mother. karen got into oxford! marci passed her exams. with so many good things happening to so many great people, it's hard not to celebrate.

ebay. with emails announcing that i'm "a winner" and the success of a sold item, it's impossible NOT to feel good.

anything in particular put some bounce in your step today?

timeline.

2011-09-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

quote me on this one.
facebook is the new mac.
(meaning, they rule the world)

oh yeah ...

2011-09-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

i forgot to mention, i'm selling LOTS of dresses on ebay.
pretty ones. (and some brand new ones)

check them out here.
and since we're friends, send me your best offer and let me know you saw it on the blog.

xoxo

you betsy

2011-09-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

i saw the most adorable animal watercolors on kimmy & chris' wall ...
which lead me to the most adorable and affordable etsy watercolors by their friend ashley.

i would hang a series of these in our adult home.
or cover stella's room in matted and framed animal prints.

cliche

2011-09-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

yes, it's autumn in new york and we couldn't resist the pull of picking our own apples. (and then blogging about it). yes, i forced everyone to wear navy, cream and plum. and if it hadn't been for a tragic camera accident at the chicken coop we would have had gorgeous color-coded family photos in autumn apple orchards.

yes, we're cliche.
but we had a really great time.
and really great fresh doughnuts.

chief

2011-09-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

i love working.
since it became legal back in 2000, i've racked up a few on my resume:

hostess / waitress
abercrombie brand rep
film office intern
marketing / events intern
nordstrom sales rep
pr / comms writer
tech company sales associate
advertising account manager
event coordinator
law firm admin (brief stint: approx. 6 hours before i resigned)
advertising account executive
marketing supervisor / internal comms writer

and come monday, i start work as chief of staff for a communications firm in the city.

when i was in kindergarten i banged on the table and tried to overrule mrs. bedford ending playtime. on a family vacation through the eastern seaboard i earned the nickname napolean for dictating where we would eat (not waffle house), where we would sleep (no hotels with outside doors), and anything else i considered within my jurisdiction. (the convenient part about creating your own jurisdiction is that anything's game!)

so maybe chief suits me?

joking aside. i'm so grateful for this opportunity, especially in a difficult economy. since arriving in NY 6 weeks ago i have interviewed with the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Guess, JWT, Kirschenbaum, Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York University, JP Morgan and seemingly countless others. but this one is a fit. the CEO is brilliant. the team is experienced and welcoming. and after a year of floating, (remember THAT meltdown?!?!), i'm looking forward to it.

i'm also looking forward to wearing these, because i can't think of anything more appropriate for work than red pants.

September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

(saw this photo at ARM's blog and had to share. via dearphotograph.com)

(this is an old post of my September 11 experience. a decade has passed since the most horrific attacks on american soil this generation has seen. today, new yorkers walk the streets under a high alert terrorist threats. terrible men planning to attack again. i've been watching coverage, interviews, commemorations and remembering all week.)

Ten years ago I sat in Mrs. Ferguson's homeroom waiting for the pledge of allegiance and morning announcements. It wasn't unlike every other Tuesday. Senior year had just started, we were dressing in black shawls and posing awkwardly with roses to commemorate our last year of high school. We lived 30 miles north of the world's greatest city - at least in our opinion- in a small community, with a high school of 400 students.

That morning...

Mr. Ferguson came in and though he naturally possessed a high degree of nervous energy- he seemed particularly rattled. He announced that a plane had hit one of the world trade centers, and no other information was known. It was almost 9:00 am. They decided to play radio coverage of the event over the PA system. We heard play-by-play of the unfolding events. Then frantically, the announcers screamed "What is that, WHAT IS THAT?" and then gasps-yells-profanities …. as another plane crashed into the second tower. They witnessed it from the vantage point broadcasting from the top of the Empire State Building. There was no composure only raw emotion and incoherent fragments.

On the other end, we sat helpless unable to see what was happening, or understand why.

We students flooded to the library, one of the only places we could see live coverage, dumbed by disbelief, moving in silence and reverence.

Glued to the screens we watched as black smoke billowed from the towers and papers flew like dust from 110 stories. Family friends and survivors from tower 2 later reported what they thought they saw - a ticker tape parade. Had the Yankees won a game last night?

Firefighters scrambled the grounds of the World Trade Center, entering swiftly into Tower 1, ushering people away. Officials were there- it was over, or so we thought.

The streets were littered with shoes - left behind in moments of terror when our primitive instincts warned us to flee. And we did. The Brooklyn bridge was flooded with a tidal wave of unconventional runners- in suits and ties, in skirts and heels - glancing back now and again to catch one last image of a place where they spent too many of their waking hours.

We watched until the unimaginable happened.

Almost like water, the tower fell - we heard a massive roar. Collapsed mangled steel. Then the screen clicked off. Students began to cry and scream. We lived in a commuter town, where the majority of our parents boarded metro-north trains or maneuvered the narrow lanes of the Hen Hud parkway to get to work - many of them destined for the financial district. The school administration decided that watching live as neighbors and perhaps family members perished, was not in our best interest.

BUT we needed information.

We were corralled and herded to our appropriate classes. In Mrs. Mora's AP English class we sat round table in silence. We were free to talk about how we felt but for the first time, this group of eager over-achievers didn't have an answer for the question.

We felt naive. We felt violated. It was OUR city. We were scared. But we didn't have to say that. We all knew. We felt the same.

As is the case in so many high-school dramas, this being more severe than most, rumors were flying - and none of it confirmed as we weren't permitted to watch television.

More planes were in the air.

One crashed in D.C. - the pentagon was under attack and on fire.

The White House was next.

Indian Point, the nuclear power plant up the river from us, had been identified as a target.

We wouldn't survive the massive nuclear explosion when a plane hit the facility.

And it all seemed believable - planes had hit the towers and the pentagon - why wouldn't we be facing our own mortality in a nuclear strike?

The school was on crisis lock down. No one was to enter or leave. We would sit until our next move was decided. So we sat.

Transit shut down. Parents were stranded in the city. Bridges were blockaded. I snuck home and my mother and I sat in silence glued to the television - waiting for answers. I don't remember anything the news anchors said but the images of burning towers, and massive huddled messes of steel and glass are unforgettable.

In the following days we watched as firefighters searched through the wreckage around the clock. Their limbs were tattooed with permanent marker- social security numbers, names, engine company information- in case something happened. Because they were finding limbs. Hundreds of unidentified limbs. They used flashlights to navigate in the dark, responding to desperate calls for help. Survivors. Alive. Trapped under tons of steel and rubble. Unreachable. Unsavable.

Stacy's father, part of the city's bomb squad, was given charge to sort through the thousands of tons of rubble removed from the site to find those who were missing, now packed into construction dumpsters in Jersey. Gibby's father, a member of an NYC ladder company who had his one day off that Tuesday, rushed in to assist. His entire company was killed in the collapse of tower 1.

Downtown was covered in a thick layer of soot and ash.Grand Central was plastered with missing signs. Heart-wrenching notes to dads that didn't come home. Phone numbers to call in case you found someone's beloved who might be wandering the city confused, but alive. New York's hospitals were inundated.

The Daily News ran a cover picture the next day. Bodies flying from the top stories of the towers before the buildings were razed. It wasn't suicide. They had tried to evacuate but suffocating black smoke filled the staircases and when they bravely made their way down in the darkness - extreme fires on the lower floors forced them to retreat. There was no escape. They took their chances - a morbid leap of faith from the 80th floor. And we were all leaping- reaching- hoping for something.

I wanted nothing more for New Yorkers, in our state of decimated unification, to continue our rally, to rebuild. To show the faceless cowards who attacked us that when you knock us down, we get back up. For more reasons than I’ll ever understand, we didn’t. New Yorkers in high-rises fled to lower, safer buildings. Fashion and artisan areas became popular office sites. Putting every business egg and employee in one basket or building was no longer a good idea. We weren’t getting back up. We had suffered a severe loss – too shattered to spit in the face of the opponent.

Our lives were consumed in the coming months. We were all personally affected and as a result, we will never forget.
.
Today Ground Zero is a beautiful tribute with commemorative waterfalls, artifacts, and the long list of people lost. It's just Sunday. The weekend is here. College football is on. But please take a moment to remember.

It's not because I'm from New York.

Californians, Alaskans or Canadians were all hurt by the attacks.

They didn't crash planes to West Point or Fort Knox.
They didn't dress in fatigues or declare their purpose.
They hijacked carriers full of fathers and sisters, husbands and daughters.
They aimed at civilians headed to work to pay their rent in Chelsea or Murray or the Upper West Side.

They came for me and you.
It was an attack on America.

On Democracy.

On Capitalism.

On Civil Rights and Suffrage.

On the ideals that allow us to live with the freedoms we enjoy.

It was my city and our country.

I remember those who climbed the stairs. I remember those who lost their lives. I remember September 11.

10 for 10

2011-09-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

10 things for September 10:

HOW DO MOMS DO IT? i love kids (especially these 2) but after 3 days babysitting for the cutest niece and nephew on the planet, i feel like i could sleep for A WEEK.

stella loved spending time with uncle matt.

i have a love hate relationship with rachel zoe. she's just the right mix of absurd superficiality, first-world self-absorption and genuine fabulosity. she's my crack cocaine.

matt's in austin taking friday night lights tours, eating southern barbecue and catching a cougar football game with his newly-engaged best friend. which makes me want to take a girls' trip. somewhere great with a gym and a masseuse. want to meet me there?

i miss london. and kate. i miss my groceries on portobello. and my gym on moscow road. i miss a tv-less life (and my waist misses the virtually carb-free life). but while i was in london, i really missed america. which makes me also miss a time when i didn't miss anything. i was just completely happy right where i was.

i filled my j.crew cart with everything i wanted last night for a whopping total of $2,995. then i went to jcrew.com and applied for a marketing job (again) so i could have it all for 40% off.

i may not need j.crew to employ me. (stay tuned. i'm very excited)

there's a red alert terrorist warning for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. with "credible intelligence" that terrorist cells are planning attacks for the same day. why are people so mean?

i have 72 unread facebook messages. just seeing that number stresses me out. i'm sorry if you wrote one of them...

it's birthday season:

august - kris
september - teri & erica
october - scott & jason
november - frank & jake
december - allene, noelle, Jesus & matt
(honorable mention to angelique, aubry, stellie and anton who come in feb, march & april)

if i could be anything i'd be an event planner / interior decorator / kitten breeding / personal trainer with a weekend gig at my favorite retailer for a discount.

twinkle twinkle

2011-09-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

on the list of domestic skills i wish i rocked:

baking. i'm terrible with precision.
painting. i'd really like to whip together some original art
sewing. so i could make a sleeved version of this twinkling dress

someone remind me, WHY DIDN'T I MAJOR IN HOME EC?

not blogging

2011-09-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

have you noticed the weeks leading up to a baby blog announcement are strangely silent? no posts. or photos. no updates. my theory: the only thing they want to say is the only thing they have to wait 12 weeks to share.

just call me proud mama. (no, not preggers. though i am full-time mothering my adorable niece and nephew this week while my sister takes a much-deserved vacay.) my semi-sabbatical from blogging is because i had a different kind of secret. a surprise of sorts.

it took EVERY OUNCE of restraint not to tell erica about this little birthday surprise i'd been planning. thank you pinterest for all of the pinspiration.

it's borderline unhealthy...

2011-09-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

at one point in my life i hated sandra bullock.
it was simple. she stole my boyfriend.
ryan gosling is a dreamboat.

if his devotion to michelle williams in blue valentine didn't win you over, surely you were swayed when he built a dream house for rachel mcadams a la the notebook. not yet? how about his crazy stupid adorable performace (read: abs) in Crazy Stupid Love?

well, here's one more reason to REALLY love ryan. he's a legit street hero, pure blue and white stripe goodness. i wish i were kidding.

big kids

2011-09-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

when i'm not applying for jobs (or interviewing for them), doing home improvement projects for our landlords (my parents) or missing london, i'm usually do something rather enjoyable. like bike riding. or napping. or planning a party.

but today was a SPECIAL treat - the big kids took the little kids to long beach!
the adult the child ration was 5:4 which i thought worked quite nicely. matt and i were cherry pickers, holding, chasing, jumping, tending when there was a run away or need for a parental break.
which we didn't mind ONE BIT.

i mean, have you seen anything cuter?

come on irene.

2011-08-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

in the 27 years of my life (20 of which were spent living in or around New York City) and numerous fear filling forecasts there has never been an actual hurricane. certainly not one that merited widespread panic, hour-long grocery lines and endless news casts.

the one-two punch of the earthquake and hurricane has the tri-state area preaching doom and gloom. (though earthquake is a term i use loosely). driving in midtown today i saw countless people standing together with ominous faces looking up at a cloudy sky. is this the beginning of the end?

i love drama as much as the next diva. but really, spare me sam champion.

i may eat these words but here's my accu-weather forecast:

the carolinas get slammed. they always do.
d.c. gets a tropical storm .
new yorkers are disappointed by the wild thunderstorm that knocks down a few trees, stirs up some dust and fills the storm grates with rushing water
the power goes out. and depending on how densely trees grow in your part of town, it might be for longer than you'd like.
then the news spends the next few days interviewing people about their harrowing survival tales: life without wifi and cable, no taxis in sight in the most torrential of downpours, the water damage at their hamptons summer home or having their favorite eateries closed up when they needed some culinary comfort the most.

come on, irene. i'm weathering this one in westchester.

five years

2011-08-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

it's been five years since i pulled this little darling from a box in american fork labeled "free." she (he) still cuddles with me every morning in bed and smothers me with smooshes* and i just love it.

someone else just loves luci cat too...

her favorite thing to do at grandma's house are:

chase luci cat.

feed luci cat. (cat food, ham)

try to feed luci cat. (cheerios, banana)

hug luci cat.

talk loudly in luci cat's face.

and this...

in other news:

ashley sent this to me today.
she gets me.
i started a DIY project, which i've named DDIY, as in DON'T Do It Yourself. don't believe the bloggers or the itty bitty directions on the back of the can. stripping furniture of old paint is a monumental job. i'm 15+ hours in on ONE CHAIR and nowhere near done. (but i can't bring myself to throw it away)

many more job interviews. same number of job(s).

been road biking through the bestchester. many miles. no more accidents.

(smoosh: when luci cat walks up your stomach lays down on top of your lungs and rubs his face into yours very very gently)

Platform Nine & Three Quarters

2011-08-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

Remember how Harry Potter wasn't a muggle and wasn't a full-blown wizard just yet? And he found himself on a platform somewhere between 9 and 10, London and Hogwart's, old life and new life? I'm feeling a little like Harry. Somewhere between where we were (London) and where we will be (the city) and feeling time-warped where we are now.

which is here.

i live with my parents.

and luci cat.

kenneweek

2011-08-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

it's been burned into my brain that i'm not a strong swimmer (which actually isn't entirely true- i can do a mean breast stroke.) my personal belief in this lack of skill makes the enjoyment of water sports a little difficult but we managed to have loads of fun on the water this kenne-week.

being lazy on the river.

and not so lazy on the river. (matt did a lot of water skiing.)

hanging out by the pool.

and my personal favorite, white water rafting.

this birthday girl had to put up with a LOT of this:

we're back in new york. matt continues to dissertate, while i look for a job. and cuddle luci cat. and adore stella. (and don't pay rent)

related?

2011-08-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

i'm not so sure we look like sisters...

but we do have a lot of fun together.

kenneweek

2011-08-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

it's august, which means we're off for our annual kenneweek.

seven sun-filled days of family fun at chateau lybbert.

last year: we went to coeur d'alene.

we did a family photo shoot.

the boys played in the mud.

i've been busy...

2011-08-06T21:08:00.000-07:00

it has been a whirlwind week in new york.
did we even live in london?

we're officially moved in with frank and al in [b]estchester, 25 miles from the city i love/hate. we're getting lots of family time in. family dinners. family movies. family trips to costco. family trips to boston. and epic 7-hour family dates that start with a movie on 34th, dinner on 24th, and end in a comedy club on 26th.

i've also wiggled my way into the city for five+ job interviews, spent some quality time with these lifelong friends, and babysat for the cutest kids in america.

[we took stella to the park to play.]

i've been to target. bed bath & beyond. anthropologie. jcrew. bloomingdales. costco. and countless other temples to consumer-eity. i've eaten chinese food, pizza, deli sandwiches, bagels and diet coke to my heart's content. [welcome back pounds] i've trained, subwayed, taxied, walked and driven all over NYC.

[color coding matt's shirts was actually very enjoyable]

and today, after organizing closets for something like 6 hours, we walked around the Rockefeller estate, hit up a little movie theater for midnight in paris, made bubby's sour cream pancakes for dinner and now i'm applying to 20+ marketing / comms jobs on indeed.com. [well, technically RIGHT NOW i'm avoiding applying to 20 jobs by blogging]

one foot in, one foot out

2011-08-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

here we are.
in new york.
living an uneventful suburban life.

i can't bring myself to change the header.
or the title of the blog for that matter.
i gave up "dear _____" ages ago and i no longer live in london, but "dear life, i live with my parents" doesn't seem nearly as awesome.

it's been 6 days since we left london and just as predicted, the whole adventure feels like a distant dream. the kind where you wake up and think "wow, that seemed SO real." were it not for photographic evidence (and adorable friends who send us "we miss you" reminders like this) i'd seriously question the veracity of our year abroad.

[kate and tim were real sad when they strolled by our stoop]

but there are lots of great things about new york.

sisters.

luci cat.

babies who cuddle.

bigger babies who jump on the bed with us.

free rent.

great pizza.

target.

it's been a busy few days. between trips to rocky's deli for world's greatest italian club and long walks with matt through my sleepy little town, i've squeezed in five job interviews (wish me luck), two food-filled days in boston at my big fat italian family reunion, and seven hours of unpacking nine suitcases. matt writes his dissertation. and life marches on.

i had my first london moment the other day on the way home from bloomingdale's, or maybe it was jet lag. (oh yes, i forgot to mention i made time for a bloomingdale's trip with sister. priorities people...) temporarily confused by which lane i should drive in, i swerved back and forth trying to decide which felt right and neither did. which is exactly how i feel lately: one foot in new york and one out in london and neither feels quite right. maybe we should just move to austin? i think i'd really like texas...

portugal.

2011-07-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

after living in portugal for 2 years, matt was dying to return. it was only fitting that our final european adventure took us back to lisbon and porto. the architecture was amazing. the pastries were unbelievable. (france has NOTHING on portugal). and we benefitted from a devastated economy. (don't worry, we bought food for some beggars and handed out lots of euros - portugal really needs our help. maybe you should plan a trip?)

leaving london.

2011-07-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

today was a hard day. we said goodbye to many of our wonderful friends here in london. and those friends said some really nice things. and wrote some really nice cards. and sent some really nice emails. and gave some really nice gifts. and all that niceness was bound to make us cry.

we have about 72 more hours for that london miracle to come through. i'm still hopeful.
isn't hyde park magical?

words cannot express.

2011-07-22T03:28:00.000-07:00

there are not words for how much i hate moving.
detest.
abhor.
despise.
don't fully convey the feelings of disgust and sheer dread. i'd rather have my blood taken. i'd rather eat shell fish and suffer weeks of hives and steroid treatments. i'd rather do anything. actually, i'd rather not move at all.

I HATE IT - rage inducing, angry face, knots in my back from stress HATE. one might think that our propensity for relocation (4 times in 4 years) would make one accustomed to the process. one is wrong.

moving is like an allergic reaction with each subsequent move being far worse than the previous. not just the leaving an established life, great friends or a great place ...

the days of cleaning out cupboards, throwing things away, packing boxes, packing suitcases, calling utility companies, tying up loose ends, emptying trash, filling trash, emptying trash, taking inventory of what's really worth bringing on the relocation, emptying trash again, washing bedding, ironing bedding, packing bedding - i can not do another day of this.

let the record show, that noelle regina nicolai lybbert, on this the 22 on july in the two-thousandth and eleventh year refuses to move. ever. again.

looks like we'll be staying in new york for the long haul.
(if we make it to new york.)

spreading the news...

2011-07-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

do you know the swapps?

fun-loving, easy-going, denver residents with a cute little house and a real playful pup.

if you do [and even if you don't]

you'll want to see this.

YEAH. YEAH.YEAH.

fingers crossed for december 20th. [i'm partial to it]

things are unravleing fast now...

2011-07-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

it seems like the momentum of leaving town is approaching light speed. like i'll blink and suddenly we're be back in new york. i suspect it will feel just like the monday after vacation.
like london never happened.

can't i just hit pause?
slow down.
rewind.

i haven't said goodbye...

goodbye to muhammad at the fruit stand.
my vegetable saleswoman, your tomatoes are divine.
the girl on chepstow with the puppy.
adieu to my gym friends at "legs, buns, tums."
to lisa who helped me sweat off a pound or two.
ta-ta to the jack-russell dog walker.
goodbye to jonathan and his 20-minute answers to "how are you."
goodbye to the "lord of the bins" who raids our trash in a 3-piece suit each week.
so long to the ottolenghi staff and that unbelievable broccoli.
the antique store owner with the bike i want.
don't forget me sue curran. i really did want to stay 3 years.
thank you furbanks for being so refreshing.
and countless others in hyde park who made our year here wonderful.
don't cry for me kate gunning, i'll miss you terribly and see you soon.
hugs to my entire sunday school class for not walking out on me.

our nightstands are gone.
our lamps.
this weekend most of our remaining furniture will go.
jafar, that cold-hearted villain was right, things are unraveling fast now.

i'd rather light myself on fire

2011-07-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

dear employment gods,

i promise i'm a hard worker. you can even ask my boss. i promise i'll be on time. fun. organized. a team player. strategic. responsible. and affordable.

but could you just make an exception this ONE time, and make the job find me?

with appreciation,
noelle

leaving london.

2011-07-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

we've really taken a liking to british culture.

in 2.5 weeks our time here expires. and my eyes start leaking just thinking about it. i'm not sure what i'll miss the most -
the quiet, tree-lined streets we walk around each day.
the friendly portobello fruit sellers (who were from time to time the ONLY people i interacted with on those long dark winter days).
the pace of life.
our hyde park friends.
or maybe just hyde park.

be prepared

2011-07-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

i'm sure the boyscouts were referring to:

strike-anywhere matches
a canteen full of water
knowledge about how to whittle your own arrow from a sapling to catch a bird in the event of starvation

but matt's eagle scout award didn't help us one bit for this surprise situation - a cryptic message from some of our best friends. "be ready at 7:30, dressed in your best, for a night on the town." we were in desperate need of something fabulous to wear, a collective sense of humor regarding the unknown, and though we didn't know at the time - table manners fit for a king!

what we did have:

at least modest knowledge of table etiquette (as not to offend the aristocratic Englishmen)
a dress appropriate enough for london's most exclusive private club
the best friends this pair of ex-pats could ask for

kate & tim surprised us with the most fantastic evening at london's RAC. five blissful hours of fine dining, club touring, and pretense pretending while rubbing elbows with the elite of England. we were on our best behavior ... 99% of the time...

the scenery.

random

2011-07-07T02:36:00.000-07:00

i've been eating absurd amounts of fruits and veggies. take yesterday for example - a banana, avocado, 3 peaches, an apple, bowl of cherry tomatoes, and a pear. and i kind of love it. produce in london is amazeballs. unfortunately, i'm way behind in my cherry consumption. last year at this time, i'd consumed about 40 pounds of cherries. this year, i'm at about 10.

we've been walking a lot. we walk to dinner (4 miles) we walk to chelsea and back (8 miles) we walk to a movie (2 miles).

the combination of bullets 1 and 2 have shed a few pounds. in 2 years i've lost 10 of the 12 i gained our FIRST year in new york. when they said put beans in a jar and you'll never get them all out, i didn't think they were talking about pounds... (oh also, helping that process is the i-phone. many thanks to one ashley swapp who suggested this helpful app.)

i have 20 days left in country. 6 more working days. 4 days in portugal. and lots to explore london.

just thinking about finding a job in new york stresses me out.

we have ONE MORE visitor coming. i love visitors.

my sister is posting pictures of the bebes on instagram and it warms my heart.

i have packed and sent home 4 suitcases full of clothes, which i don't miss or really like. this affirms the theory that we only wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. (in fact, i packed numerous items thinking - "maybe erica will want this...")

we're going camping next weekend and i'm super excited.

does your husband eat serving bowl size amounts of cereal?

gone with the wind.

2011-07-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

kelsey and robby flew into town for a whirlwind weekend after their own italian adventure.

and even though we didn't have them for long enough, we had a WONDERFUL time.

full of DELICIOUS food.

(what did you expect from her.)

jamie olivers' italian. indian. gelato. chorizo. borough market street meat. ottolenghi.

and diet coke.

lots of sightseeing...

in style...
(if you're in london, you MUST do a brake away bike tour)

and endless conversation (like 2am endless).

decor blogs. americana men's fashion. where to live in nyc. etc. etc.

we had SO MUCH fun, i wish you had come to visit too!

for sale: london

2011-07-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

we're liquidating and packing up.
if you know anyone in london interested in some furniture, email me [noelle.nicolai@gmail.com] we're selling:

1marks & spencer couch
2 marks & spencer arm chairs
1 gilt framed rectangle mirror
1 black and white striped ikea rug
1 antique buffet / entry table
2 ivory floor lamps
2 brass mantle lamps (with ivory / black shade)
2 ikea green velvet curtains
1 yew wood dining set with leaf and 6 chairs
1 ikea hemnes bookshelf
1 farmhouse dresser (no really, it's from an english farm house)
1 kitchen set (12 person dinnerware, pots/pans, utensils etc, glasses etc)
1 guest set (double high queen air mattress, 3-inch memory foam topper, sheets, quilt and pillows)
throw pillow inserts
sofa end tables

giving away:
pink laquer desk
pair of decor cork boards

to tea or not to tea?

2011-07-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

it was on the london bucket list. we're methodically crossing-off our wish list to make sure we don't miss out on anything. so today, in this gorgeous sunny weather, i walked to kensington palace and dined on finger sandwiches and scones. tea should be called rice. it's bland, boring and needs lots of additives to it to make it palatable. lucky for me, i had tea sans tea, (that's laurel's rose and hibiscus above) with an extra serving of orange scone - which was everything tea should be: tasty, creamy, jammy, sweet, carby goodness. the orangery is a gorgeous venue, with a beautiful view and i was fortunate to have good company (who didn't care that i skipped on the tea and doubled up on the scones)

up next:

london bike tour

hampton court

serpentine row boats

a concert (preferably outdoors)

tower of london

p.s. THE EGANS ARE HERE! THE EGANS ARE HERE!!

three.

2011-06-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

married for 3.

together for 5. (almost)

best friends forever.

and ever.

(i think you get the point)

and ever.

and these are just from our first year dating!

2011-06-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

last night we saw kevin spacey in shakespeare's Richard III at the old vic.

loved.

we've become quite the pair of thespians.

also loved in london:

lord of the flies @ regents outdoor theatre

jersey boys

les mis

twelfth night @ the national theatre

mike wallace.

2011-06-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

have i told you this story?

about the 16-year-old braces-clad, prom-dress-wearing, version of myself that sat next to an elderly man at a pricey new york restaurant and asked him if he worked for CBS? (it was a CBS pre-Tony award event) he responded with a slight hint of offense in his tone: "i'm mike wallace." OOPS. good thing he was besties with GBH - (Gordon B. Hinckley) - it gave us a lot to talk about.

take two...
today, i ran up to the second floor to teach my sunday school lesson. (which by the way, is the greatest calling ever. i kind of love it. and my front row supporters. i digress...) i know the regulars mostly by name, and noticed some obvious visitors. we get TONS of those in the summer. so i decided to make them feel welcome.

"where are you from? (vegas)
what are you doing here? (......work.....)
welcome to london!"

they seemed, maybe a little less clean cut and i wanted to be sure they felt welcome. so i walked over to my "vegas friends" as i casually referred to them when i asked them to answer a question. read a quote. and participate in general.

turns out my new "vegas friends" are kind of awesome. i didn't recognize them, but everyone hipper than me did. they even showed me on their super hip ipads after. (hello SAM'S TOWN?) maybe you've heard of brandon flowers? just because he's all over my ipod doesn't mean i knew what he LOOKED like, or expected him to be 8 rows in front of me.

the killers had a show in hyde park, and the lead singer decided to stop by before rocking out.

ugh.

blew that one.

maybe he found it refreshing?

rock bottom

2011-06-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

clearly, i've hit rock bottom.

in an email from my sister:

"Can you believe you are one of those people who forwards cat videos? "

but if you saw this cat video - and loved cuddling AND cats - wouldn't you send it around?

it kills me. (stick with it at least 'til 36 seconds)

she kills me too.

and if you really want to laugh / feel like a terrible person - watch THIS video!

and to solidify this rock bottom status, keep your eyes out for more animal photos with cheesy captions, you are loved and must send to 15 people, and inspirational quotes with photos of nature emails - coming to an inbox near you!

Italian Adventures Part 3: R(h)ome

2011-06-25T01:33:00.000-07:00

it didn't hit me until we landed BACK in london, that this trip would likely be my last to italy for the foreseeable future. touchdown = immediate melancholy. (followed by a day of mouth-stuffing, pajama-wearing mourning. oh, the pain of first-world problems!)

i just love it.
the way i love luci cat.
the way i love blue blanky.
and the way i love stellie buttons.

everything in rome is delightful.
luciano at the front desk is delightful.
pizza al taglio is delightful.
the breeze that breaks through the hot sun is delightful.
giuseppe in the breakfast room is delightful.
trastevere is delightful.
strolling through parks and napping on benches in delightful.
pistachio e cioccolato is delightful.
the cars, the scooters, the round abouts, the fountains, the buildings, the accents, the gritty streets, the ancient ruins, the lively music ... it's all delightful.

so we ended our trip meandering around the city in sheer delight. we even clocked a 12+ mile day bouncing from pizzerias and piazzas to ancient ruins and historical buildings.
i got my fix.
go get yours.

giolitti's.

trastevere.

antonio's.

villa doria.

bici baci.

la florida pizzeria.

make a wish.

official.

2011-06-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

rock over london.
rock on new york.

Italian Adventures Part 2: Cinque Terre

2011-06-23T00:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you Rick Steves. Apparently these five little coastal towns were an undiscovered spot until the guidebook guru happened upon them. Since his discovery, thousands (and I mean THOUSANDS) of Americans pour into these villages each year. I'm a traveling hypocrite: an American and a tourist, who doesn't want to see A SINGLE American tourist when I travel. We managed to avoid most of the crowds. There was so much we loved about Cinque Terre - like the hiking!

Don't be intimidated by the camel-back packing, boot-wearing hardcores. We did the sentiero rosso (more challenging red path) in keds. And though you might curse my name all the way up 1200+ feet of stairs, you'll be glad you did it when you get to the top and are meandering among mountain-top villages, ancient abandoned homes and manicured vineyards.

We crossed paths with Sergio hiking from Manarola to Corniglia. (you MUST do this!) Though he was returning from a Sunday morning fruit-finding excursion, he seemed more than happy to snap a quick photo. After chatting about where we lived, how adorable he was, and what he'd been up to that morning he reached right into that basket (chocked full of oregano, basil and fresh fruit) and handed us some delicious apricots. Italians will rob you blind and give you the shirt off their backs. Anyway, they were delicious.

he's adorable, right?

We loved eating.
Every night at Trattoria dal Billy - this is what Italian food is meant to be. Fresh ingredients, simple preparation, no fuss and unbelievable flavors. I'm still dreaming about my sea bass. The view wasn't bad either.

We loved adventure.
After conquering an accidental 5-mile excurion in sandals the day before, we were feeling REALLY adventurous. We decided to take our chances finding Guvano, the locals-only, clothing-optional, "secret" beach. With nothing but vague instructions - "take a narrow staircase, ring the bell at the industrial looking gate..." - we set off. Everyone I spoke to seemed very protective of this "little slice of beach heaven." (thank you NYTimes for the blatant HYPERBOLE). The first response: do you have a flashlight? the water is too rough today. it's dirty. But we continued undaunted. Then again: do you have a flashlight? it's difficult to get there.
In retrospect, important questions like:
why would we need a flashlight?
do you have one we could borrow?
what do you mean by dirty?
would have been appropriate follow ups. We just assumed this brotherhood of locals was set on protecting their magical place. Why would we let them discourage us? We're American tourists and "we can do anything!!!" (at least the Senegalese think, right RS?) So we pressed on.

"On" took us to an abandoned train tunnel, where the need for a flashlight became readily apparent after we round the first bend. Dripping water makes loud echoing THUMPS. Utter darkness induces silent sobs (HELLO worst case scenarios. my mind is going wild... angry homeless people, sink holes to the center of the earth we could slip into, oncoming trains we'd never see...) The screeches and rumblings of speeding trains in adjacent tunnels send chills up my spine. After 15 long black minutes, we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our pace quickens. I fight the urge to sprint. Mainly because I have one hand on Kate's shoulder and the other around Matt's waist in a death grip and I'm not willing to let go. (remember, I slept with a lamp on until high school.) At this point, a curious pair of headlights is speeding toward us from behind and I'm sure we're going to die on these abandoned tracks, meters shy of our destination. Matt does his best to lie - "It's just a flashlight" he says. We emerge as the headlights catch up to us. Two unkempt rastafari yell "ciao ragazzi" and all that leftover death-defying adrenaline explodes - I sob. As our eyes adjust to our surroundings and we explore Guvano, it becomes very clear that "clothing optional" actually means "rastafari nudist colony." I guess I didn't learn those nuances on study abroad. After trying to find a nice location to take in some sun (in suits), awkwardly stepping over jagged rocks and naked bodies, then carrying on a conversation with a very tan, very naked middle-aged man who offered to show us a spot on the beach, we retreated. And instead of risking my life in the tunnel reprise, I negotiated* a price for our safe return in those speeding headlights - a scooter truck.

Worth every penny.

Those real friends of ours from Part 1, well, they were real sports about this one too.
(*agreed to whatever they asked of me)

Italy via iPhone

2011-06-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

rome.

Italian Adventures Part 1: Real Friends

2011-06-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

We're back from a wonderful trip to Italy with a quick stop in Pisa (you don't need more), Cinque Terre and Rome. The original plan included a jaunt down to the Amalfi Coast, but Matt was invited to final rounds for a job we really hope he gets. We cancelled Sorrento to fly back early so he could be there.

Italy is my favorite place on the planet. I was literally overcome with sadness when we landed in London. (insert eye roll here. how bad could london really be? it's not bad. it's just not italy)

Slow walkers.
Fast talkers.
Wonderful food.
Terrible smells.
Kind people.
Angry drivers.
Loud cities.
Quiet side streets.
Old buildings.
It's just magical.
After 4 years of not speaking, my language skills were in better condition than expected. Being able to communicate when you travel makes a HUGE difference - where's the best pizza, how do we get here, what's in your basket (oh, apricots? we'd love some!!!), what happened to all the cats?- I wish every country spoke Italian.

There's so much to share about our trip: dinners on the cliffs of Manarola with ocean views, accidentally hiking WAY too many miles, terrifying abandoned train tunnels that lead to secret beaches, watching the sun set over the Vatican after a charming dinner in Trastevere, a very casual conversation with an entirely nude man ...
have I mentioned I love Italy?

We were fortunate enough to embark on this adventure with our friends Kate & Tim.
(Notting Hill neighbors, worked with in Manhattan, economist husbands, parallel lives)

(our pisa slumber party)

In the 90s there was a friendship advertising campaign, well now that i think about it, it really was about drunk driving: "friends don't let friends drive drunk." Our Italian adventures have proved that real friends don't mind when you book a 2-start hotel with a 5-star price tag. They don't mind when the beds are so small that you have to push them together in order to make room for everyone. They don't mind when you sob in a pitch black tunnel as worst-case scenarios run through your mind. They don't mind when you suggest a quick walk that ends up being a 5 mile mostly-uphill hike through the mountains in sandals. They don't mind that the hike forces you to pee in the woods. They don't mind when you taste their gelato. Or make them take photos of you. Or eat off their dinner plate.

Friends don't let friends go to Italy alone!

arrivederci

2011-06-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

we're off for an anniversary trip to italy.

dream.

come.

true.

(this was three years ago, i can hardly believe it...)

we originally had 10-days of nothing planned in cinque terre, amalfi and rome, but we had to change our plans a bit when matt was invited for final rounds for that miracle job we've been wanting here in london. now its just 5 - more than a fair trade me thinks. just means we'll go back if we get to stay.

are you on this roller coaster with me?

2011-06-12T02:48:00.000-07:00

it changes daily...

i'm pretty sure our miracle arrived, but it wasn't a miraculous delivery and it's not grown into fruition just yet. so no decisions have been made. we're just waiting, and waiting, and waiting. but i think that's a good lesson for us. i'm not very good at waiting.

1,000 words (or 2,000?)

2011-06-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

nothing.

2011-06-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

today, i'm feeling a little like this.
just nothing.

people ask:
how are you? (nothing)
will you be so excited if you stay in london? (nothing)
do you want to go back to new york? (nothing)
what will you do for work? (nothing)

which isn't really like me. there's always SOMETHING.
something i saw on the tube.
something funny i overheard.
something that made me smile. or think.
something i'm looking forward to.
something i want to do. or watch. or dance to.
something i can't wait to eat.

not today though, today it's just nothing.

i'm so off my game that...

i booked our hotel in pisa for the wrong night.
i stood a friend up for lunch because i was certain it was the NEXT day.
i lost my cell phone, searched all over, and found it IN MY HAND.
i took the pasta off the stove, drained it, covered it in pesto and THEN realized it was still crunchy and had only been boiling a few minutes. and guess what, i served it for dinner anyway.

where to stay in london

2011-06-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

why don't you come visit us in late july / august and rent this perfect little flat for the family?

london blogger lindsey is doing what every european should and heading on holiday this august.
if you're planning a trip to london, and need somewhere homey and affordable to stay, email me and i'll forward it along to her. (noelle.nicolai@gmail.com)

it's a white stucco, raised ground floor flat with oodles of light, lots of space to spread out and kate moss across the street. no really...

so we'll see you in august?!?!?! (if we even still live here!)

a few things:

2011-06-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

while walking home today, i saw 3 pairs of red pants. there's not room in this town for all of us. i might have to find a new color of pants... mint? cobalt? but nothing will ever be as great as red...

regardless of what shakes out with the rampant-cy of red pants, i will never give up my cheetah flats. ever.

i get to spend A LOT of time with my best friend. and it's pretty great. matt and i are averaging something like 8+ hours of togetherness a day not including sleeping.

our long-time-in-london miracle may have arrived, but it's hard to tell ...

i think bentley (the bachelorette) is getting a bad rap. he's HYSTERICAL, albeit insensitive. i admire his HONESTY. these guys speculate about spending the rest of their lives with a girl they've known for a week AND only ever been alone with for a few hours. my personal favorite: "i'm going to make ashley cry ... i hope my hair looks ok!" CLASSIC. for that bentley, i will jump on the trampolines at your family fun center.

italy in 9 days. can't wait to get back.

i still sleep with my baby blanket. so what?

i miss stella.

forgot to mention....

2011-06-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

not sure if i shared this exciting bit of news...
(no. we aren't pregnant)

but we are spending 9 days in italy this month.

3 in cinque terre with kate and tim.
3 in amalfi da solo.
3 in rome with kelsey and robby.

and needless to say, i am STOKED. haven't been back since 2007 with jana.
sogno d'italia!

hobbs

2011-06-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

found a store chocked full of dresses i don't want to live without.

modest. well-made.perfect fits.

oh, and really expensive.

hobbs.co.uk

in case we move before you get to come visit...

2011-06-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

i spent the first 4 months decorating our flat.

the next 2 wondering how long we'd be living here

and the next 6 trying not to care that our place is half done.

in case you don't get to come visit, here's your room.

the air mattress goes in the corner.

if we leave, i'm selling it all.

if we stay, i'm buying 2 more lamps and hanging art and photos.

[for when you come visit]

so maybe...

2011-06-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

so maybe today i was shirtless in hyde park.
on the ground.
dry-heaving.
and laughing.
and screaming.

kate and i went on a walk. and as we passed the serpentine lake, a nut fell from the trees and smacked me in the head. surprised by the pain and weight of said nut, i rubbed my head and inquisitively said "that was a wet nut..." then i hear kate exclaim, "oh my gosh. oh my gosh. IT WAS POOP!"

this kind of poop:

as i tried to stifle girly screams of disgust, i was overpowered by my gag reflex. (have you seen it in action? i can't control it.) while i'm on my hands and knees dry heaving, kate tries to scrape the poop off my head with a stick and some leaves. as it trickles down my back she makes an executive decision: "noelle, i'm sorry, but you have to take your shirt off..."

10 seconds later i'm in a sports bra with droves of summer tourists walking by. what next? dunk my head in the serpentine? search for water to rinse it out? needless to say, we laughed the whole way home. (with a few goose bumps of heeby geebies - no pun intended.)

i like

2011-06-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

these pics and these girls.

and i like you too.

it's over...

2011-06-02T02:05:00.000-07:00

400+ emails.
118 hours of work this pay-period.
6 months of planning.
1 day long event.

The Premier Recognition Summit is over, and I'm thrilled.

Here's my cute colleague Mary who was crazy helpful throughout the whole planning process.
And here's me tooting my own horn...

Some of the comments:

“Fantastic event, all of the speaker were engaging with very interesting, relevant, real life examples. Good venue and lunch. Lots of ideas to take into work...Thank you!”

“Very good session. Good Venue. Well Organized.”

swing and a miss...

2011-05-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

i stumbled upon a new fashion blogger. and i love her so much (and want to wear ALL of her outfits) that i almost don't want to share her with you. because she has 4,000 other followers. and if i wear her outfits, and YOU wear her outfits - 4,002 would just be TOO many...
(or maybe you already know about her?)

but i'm terrible at secrets.
so...here she is. spot on. every time.

meet bee.

today, i tried to bee.
but it didn't really work. which is my greatest frustration with fashion bloggers. they're like tara shields. they make it look SO EFFORTLESS.

AHA! i'm on to something. maybe it wasn't quite right, because i tried?!?!
now, i'm on the hunt for a knee-length, bubble hem cheetah skirt, so i can try this little ditty.

anyway - here's her bee-utiful outfit, and my attempt:

help?

2 hours

2011-05-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

this weekend i took a nap -on a train- and woke up here:

with this guy.

and my red pants.

americans in paris

2011-05-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

best. night. ever.

(you can't see it in this pic, but we're standing under the eiffel tower)

do you know morgan? she's pretty fabulous, and oozes good energy. (that's her on the right, next to her equally as fabulous, easy-going, food-loving husband joel)

morgan and joel planned a trip to paris. and since i like her so much, i decided to crash it. after a long work week, we hopped a train to paris, swapped apartments with these american-parisians and met up with friends on friday night at our favorite place near the eiffel tower - cafe constant. i hope to live 2 hours from paris for the rest of my life.

glorious food.
interesting conversation.
wonderful company.
it was the best night abroad ever. (can't you tell i'm REALLY enjoying it?)

here's the recipe for parisian dinner party success:

1. a pair of foreign service / npo APs (american-parisians) who are connected to everyone and know all the french secrets (like where the best crepes are and what time the prostitutes come out ... really, "everything they say is true")

2. one (and really, there is ONLY one) exuberant and gregarious euro disney AP who humorously shares the tales of her euro relocation --- "try a few attractions..."

3. a pair of mellow, well-traveled, energetic californians (at least, they are californians for now) who can chat with anyone about anything, are always up for an adventure (like going to a party in normandy with someone they met in peru, a year ago!) and love good food.

4. a killer french restaurant with a long line of people waiting to be seated before it even opens

5. a 5k walk after dinner to find the most delicious crepes and burn enough calories to deserve them

6. a location with rich history, stunning views, and exotic accents

7. + one little sister on study abroad.

= PERFECTION in Paris.

american cousins

2011-05-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

anyone remember when this little number was all the rage on broadway?

matt and i were so excited to see it here in london - authentic acccents, the west end, original cast memebrs. it was going to be magical. so when my american cousin came to town, we snagged some tickets and prepared ourselves for an outstanding evening of modern musical delight ...

and then we saw billy elliot...

we decided, we like his american cousin billy madison WAY BETTER. i could be REALLY pretentious and give a litany of reasons why it let me down (weak chorus, mediocre dancing, etc) but i'll just say: in the end, it felt like we were in the small mining town from county durham put on a play.

so for anyone traveling to london, hoping to add a west end musical to your sightseeing list, do yourself a favor, and stick with les mis.

i've been a little MIA

2011-05-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

this is what happens when you don't feel well, shower before bed, and fall asleep with wet hair.

fevers. chills. sick stomach. headaches.
and more work than i could get done.

but the sickness is passing.
work will calm down after the event i've been planning (NEXT week.)
oh, and we decided a weekend in paris would be nice.

the beginning and the end

2011-05-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

yesterday began like this:

blue skies and a stroll through hyde park.

fields of beautiful flowers.

and ended with a handful of these:

which attests to the kind of day it was. because i rarely (if ever) take ibuprofen.

and never in quantities above 2. but i HAD to.

it was just that kind of day.

sleep screaming

2011-05-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

matt came in the bedroom last night, just as a noise had woken me up. he gave me a very strange look...
"honey, you're screaming..."

apparently, it went something like this (in somewhat of a crescendo).

Ang....
Ang....
Angelique....
ANGELIQUE....
TURN IT OFF.
TURN IT OFF.

the yelling woke me. matt's lamp was on, and apparently, i wanted it off. but why call for angelique?

well, she loves to read. she reads like she drinks water - she needs it. she devours books at light speed. and often, that meant falling asleep with her lamp on. once i grew out of sleeping with my own lamp on (for protection purposes... and yes, it took WAY too long) i preferred complete darkness. i also refused to close my door. (if the lamp wasn't there to keep monsters away, i wasn't about to lock myself in a room with them. i need an escape route.*) so, ang would stay up late reading. then fall asleep. and then i would be irked by the light. i'm easily irked.

and apparently last night, my subconscious assumed she was the offender.
this happened once before, in high school, on a school trip. we had to wake up early for the first day of Model United Nations meetings, and my friend tried to get me up. apparently, i started yelling at her saying "MOM, I'M NOT GOING TO SEMINARY TODAY."

i guess the lesson is, don't mess with my sleep...
do you ever sleep scream?

sorry ang!

(*a clear way to army crawl to my parents bedroom.)

the bucket list.

2011-05-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

dear miracle maker,

it didn't come today. maybe you could send a tracking number so i have a better idea when to expect its arrival?

patiently,

not so miraculous matt & noelle

p.s. these did come today. and though i'd prefer a miracle, they were pretty great.

our current uncertainty has taught us a lot about contingency planning. we have a plan for every. possible. scenario.

the funny thing about plans is that they make us feel better in the moment. but when things don't go accordingly to them (and they rarely do), you end up feeling worse. the funnier thing is, i know this, and i still make them - lots of them. i guess i just like plans. right now our plan is to stay right where we are, nestled in notting hill.

but one aspect of our "leave london" contingency plan is to LOVE london. so last night we sat down and brainstormed a bucket list of things we must do before we leave (if we leave?):

Stonehenge
Hampton Court
High Tea
London Bicycle Tour (a professional one, not a DIY one!)
Long Country Walk
Kew Gardens
Greenwich Observatory
Lunch at Harrod's
Peter Pan in the Park
Lord of the Flies at Regent's Park Outdoor Theater (tickets booked!)
Globe Theater / National Theater (tickets booked!)
Kensington Palace & Gardens
Churchill War Rooms
Row Boat on the Serpentine
Go IN the Tower of London
Explore Shoreditch
See Billy Elliot

come with us! we love company. we also booked a graduation / anniversary trip to italy - with stops in cinque terre, amalfi and rome. we are SO EXCITED.

outside inside

2011-05-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

outside my house. inside my house.

swapped.

2011-05-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

i ran out the door onto the front stoop and called out "WAIT WAIT! your flight was cancelled!" ashley believed me for all of 5 seconds. tom laughed. i just really wanted them to stay.

and maybe i cried a little when i came back in the house and their car pulled away. we love london. but we also love our american friends.

(our london friends too. they knew lots of places and things - this restaurant. that street. this movie theater. that crepe (no not that one. the other one.) this amazing tv show. (it's called human planet and you REALLY need to watch it.))

our american and london friends ask: where are you moving? will you stay or will you go?

i wish i knew the answer. but we're still waiting for our miracle. i think maybe tomorrow she'll come. text, email, phone or royal mail are all acceptable forms of miraculous delivery. d-day is june 15. we're letting the landlords know someone else can live in our charming little place with no overhead lights, eensy weensy fridge and intermittent hot water if nothing changes by then - after that we have 6-8 weeks to get out of town.

cheers

2011-05-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

you know the song. the one about the bar?

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna go where everybody knows
Your name.

well, we feel that way about going to church. we love our hyde park ward. so much so, that walking 2 miles and sitting 3 hours flies by. we love how welcome we feel. we love seeing friends we don't get to during the week. we love singing songs. we love it all. and it's when we're sitting in those wooden pews soaking in all that spiritual sunshine that we feel like we might NEVER leave this city. so cross your fingers, legs and Ts that we'll be spending many more sundays on exhibition road.

cheers to you hyde park.

[mr. & me. sunday best.]

(if you live in london and want to come to church, sport your sunday best, come on over for brunch and join us. i think you'll really like it...)